# NTSB SEA06LA154: Piper PA-23-150, N1221P, Ontario, OR, August 4, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 4, 2006, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Ontario, OR - Coordinates: 44.014167, -117.010276 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0142&lon=-117.0103&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report March 26, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 64291 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA06LA154 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64291/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06LA154 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate inflight decision by failing to refuel while en route, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of power. Factors were the en route high wind condition and the soft terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - base turn - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency landing - Overrun, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot estimated there was 82 gallons of fuel on board when he departed on the second leg of the cross-country flight. Approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes later, after the gear was down and locked and while turning from downwind to base, the pilot noticed a vibration coming from the left side of the airplane; an unsuccessful attempt to lower the flaps confirmed that the left engine had failed. Being high and fast with no flaps the pilot elected to continue his approach and land, but over the approach end of the runway the right engine quit. The pilot then attempted to force the airplane onto the runway, which resulted in several bounces. The airplane made firm contact with the runway, then overran the end of the runway, going off the end of the runway, and then over an irrigation ditch before coming to rest upright in an onion field. A post-accident investigation of the airplane's four fuel tanks revealed that the right auxiliary, right main, and left main fuel tanks were empty, while the left auxiliary fuel tank had about 2 inches of fuel remaining. The investigation revealed no anomalies with the airplane, which would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that he didn't know where the fuel went, only that he encountered some high winds en route to his destination. ## Factual narrative On August 4, 2006, approximately 1430 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-23-150 multiengine airplane, N1221P, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power in both engines, followed by a bounced landing and runway overrun at the Ontario Municipal Airport (ONO), Ontario, Oregon. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. The airline transport pilot and his three passengers received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight, which was operated in accordance with 14 CFR Part 91, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed. The flight departed the Sweetwater County Airport (RKS), Rock Springs, Wyoming, at 1115, with its destination being ONO. In a written statement and in a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that the cross-country flight was planned from Wa Kenney, Kansas to Lewiston, Idaho, with scheduled fuel stops in Rock Springs, Wyoming and Ontario, Oregon. The pilot stated that after landing at Rock Springs he added 43 gallons of fuel for a total of 82 gallons; 36 gallons in each main tank and 5 gallons in each auxiliary wing tank. The pilot further stated that approximately 20 miles from the Ontario airport he noted that the fuel remaining in the main tanks was one-quarter full, with 5 gallons in each auxiliary tank. The pilot reported that he continued inbound, entered left downwind for Runway 14, and after lowering the landing gear he observed the gear lights displaying down and locked. The pilot stated that as he started to turn onto his base leg he noticed a vibration coming from the left side of the airplane, and as he proceeded toward the runway he observed the left propeller slowing down. The pilot further stated that when he attempted to lower the flaps and they didn't respond, this confirmed that the left engine had failed. The pilot reported that when he realized he was "high and fast" and needed to get the airplane on the runway, he attempted to force the airplane onto the runway, which resulted in several bounces. The pilot further reported that he finally made firm contact with the runway and started maximum braking before entering the overrun, going off the end of the runway and over an irrigation ditch before coming to rest upright in an onion field. There was no post-crash fire. The pilot stated that he didn't know where the fuel went, only that he encountered some high winds en route to his destination. A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness safety inspector, who traveled to the accident site, reported that an on-scene investigation of the airplane's four fuel tanks revealed that the right auxiliary, right main, and left main fuel tanks were empty, while the left auxiliary fuel tank had about 2 inches of fuel remaining. The inspector also reported that the right propeller was in the feathered position while the left propeller was in the unfeathered position; both of the engine's propeller control levers were in the feathered position. A subsequent inspection by the inspector after the aircraft was recovered failed to reveal any anomalies with the airplane which would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1221P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1221P-2013-08-06), registration cancelled 2013-08-06, S/N 23-241, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-23-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-150) (registry code 7102303) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 23-241 - Airframe hours: 5770.6 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Leary J. Johnson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2006, 13.5 hours before - Departed: RKS, Rock Springs, WY - Destination: ONO, Ontario, OR - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: ONO, Ontario Municipal Airport, runway 14, 4,307 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: minor; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 6,422 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 4,078 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC) - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: ONO ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20060804017309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060804017309A), Aug 4, 2006: Piper PA23150, Ontario, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated that he had 82 gallons of fuel when he departed rock springs, WY enroute to Ontario, OR. The flight duration was 3 hours. The pilot… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.